Flushing tank inlet valve



Feb- 18, 1947 A. A. GREENWALD A l FLUSHING TANK INLET VALVE Filed Sept. 13, 1943 Parenteel Feb. 18,1947

UNITED STATES FATE;

2,415,875 FLUSHING TANK llNLE'i` VALVE Arthur A. Greenwald, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 13, 1943, Serial No. 502,148

This invention pertains to float operated inlet valves for ilushing tanks, and it has as its more general object the provision of a simple, yet very eicient and durable construction for valves of this class and one in which repair and replacement of the valve parts may be quickly and easily accomplished.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient adjustment in the iloat connections whereby the water level in the ushing tank may be changed according to the requirements of the installation.

As is known to those acquainted with the subject to which the invention relates, a suction in the water supply line frequently follows a flushing operation and causes a siphoning of water iromthe tank back into the line. It is an object of the invention to avoid this action by providing a check valve that will close the instant reverse flow occurs and which adds very little to the expense of the device.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate in the device means, desirably in the form of a needlepoint valve, for limiting the quantity of water that may escape through the rei-lll tube thereby to avoid unnecessary waste oi Water which is common in devices of the class under consideration, especially where high pressures in the water supply lines are encountered.

Other objects and advantages will appear as I proceed to describe the invention by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein the view is a side elevation, partly in section, of an inlet Valve constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the parts of the structure by reierence characters, I is a tubular column having a base flange 2 and a threaded extension 3 below said flange which is adapted to be projected through an opening 4 in the bottom Wall 5 of the tank. The usual conical washer 6, of rubber or the like, is compressed between the flange 2 and wall 5, thereby to seal the opening li, when the coliunn is drawn down by the screwing up of a nut 'i that is applied to the threaded extension 3 and is engaged with the bottom of the tank. The water supply line (not shown) is adapted to be connected by a slip nut B with the lower end of the threaded extension 3. A ange il] surrounds the interior of the column l a suitable distance below the top thereof and is formed with an upwardly facing valve seat ll wherewith a spherical valve member I2 is adapted to engage, said member preferably consisting of a rubber ball.

1 Claim. (Cl. 137-104) The upper end oi the column l is externally threaded for screw connection with the internally threaded bottom extension ii of a casing it. A washer i6 is interposed between the top oi the column i and a shoulder formed on the interior ci the casing adjacent the bottom extension thereof. Extending about the interior of the casing i5 a short distance above said shoulder is a flange il that is formed with a downwardly iacing valve seat i3 wherewith a semi-spherical valve member 2@ is adapted to engage. The valve member 2G is desirably formed of rubber and has a central opening whose axis is normal to the iiat bottom face of the member. Engaged upwardly through said opening oi the valve member @El is a Valve stern 2| that is shown as provided at its lower end with a head 2li that is cylindrical and has a concave lower face 2S against which the first mentioned valve member i2 may strike as said member is lifted by the upward ilow of water through the column. The partsv are illustrated in the drawing in the positions they would oce cupy if the water were turned oit, or if a Siphonn ing action were in progress, as above explained. The upper end of the casing i5 is reduced in diameter to provide a tubular guide 2t for the valve stem 2i, and above said guide a connector 2t is screwed onto the threaded end of the valve stem. rllhis connector has a relatively deep threaded recess that cpens through its lower end so that it may be adjusted axially of the valve stem `and thus determine the height to which the water may rise within the tank, as will be readily understood. The connector is desirabl'y formed of plastic, or of a brous material that is impervious to water, so that, by the parts being of the right proportions, a binding action will be set up between the connector and stern that will cause them to retain the relation to which they are adjusted. A knurled stop nut 2l is threaded on the stem below the connector 2S and a washer oi cushion material surrounds the stern below said nut. The nut serves the purpose oi limiting the descent of the valve stern and consequently the dropf oi the valve member Eil away from the' seat i8. The washer aforesaid, striking the top of the guide 25 when the float drops, dampens the blow and prevents an unpleasant metallic sound being made. The upper end of the connector 26 terminates in a threaded boss 2t that is screwed into the socket member 2% of the float ttl.

The casing l5 is provided with a lateral branch 33 that curves downwardly at its outer end. and is shown as internally threaded for the reception of the threaded upper end of the fill pipe 35.

Rising from the top wall of the branch 33 is a tubular boss 3S, the bore of which is smooth for a distance downwardly from the top of the boss and is then threaded. The boss communicates with the interior of the branch 33 through an orice 3l into which is adapted to be projected the needlepoint Valve 38 that is formed by the pointed end of a screw 39 that is threadedly engaged through the lower wall of the branch 33, the screw being provided with a knurled head 40 for convenient adjustment. The threaded eX- tremity of a rell tube 42 is screwed into the threaded portion of the bore of the boss 30, the smooth portion of the bore being occupied by an unthreaded part of the tube d2., Thus, in the bending of the rell tube to dispose its outlet end in position to discharge in the overflow pipe (not shown) in accordance with the usual practice, the tube is prevented from bending in the immediate region of its threaded end where the Wall of the tube is weakened and is liable to crack if bent. By means of the needlepoint valve 38 the quantity of water escaping through the rell tube 42 may be regulated and wastage thus avoided.

When the flushing tank contains a full supply of water, the iioat lifts the stem 2| and engages the valve with the seat I8 to shut oli the flow of water upwardly through the column I and into the :casing I5. Under these conditions the ball valve member I2 .settles4 into engagement with the seat II. As soon as the tank is ilushed, the float 39 drops and lowers the valve 20 from the seat I8, whereupon water will rise .through the column I, lifting the valve I2 from its seat, and pass on through the casing and out through the branch 33 thereof and downwardly through the iill pipe 35 to the bottom of the tank. As customary, the ll pipe has its lower end below ythe minimum water level in the tank so as to avoid splash and noise. The internal cross-sectional area of the pipe 35 is less than that of .the major portion of the branch 33 so that sufficient back pressure will build up within .the branch to insure ow through the rell tube 42'.

In case suction occurs in the supply pipe and column I, the valve I2 will snap to its seat and prevent reverse 110W or siphoning. Access to both valve members I2 and 20, and to the seats II and I 3, maybe had by unscrewing the casing from the column; and if .the valve 20 is so worn as `to require replacement, the connector and stop nut 2T may be unscrewed from the end of the stem 2l and the stem dropped from the casing I5 so that the worn valve member may be replaced by a new one after which the stem 2| is projected upwardly vthrough the casing and the stop nut 21 applied and readjusted and the iioat reconnected to the stem. The valve member I2 may be replaced in an obviously convenient manner while the casing I5 is removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A valve of the class described comprising a tubular column having an upwardly facing valve beyond, a refill tube having its end threaded and seat surrounding the bore thereof and spaced a distance below the top end of the column, a

spherical valve member of resilient material free within the top of the column for engagement with said seat, a casing having screw connection at its lower end with the top of the column, a downwardly facing valve seat surrounding the bore of the casing adjacent the bottom thereof, the casing incorporating at its upper end a tubular guide that is in axial alignment with the beforementioned valve seats, a valve stem extending upwardly through the plane of the second mentioned valve seat and through said guide, a Iloat operatively connected to the upper end of the stem, the stem terminating at its lower end in a head ythat serves as a stop for the above mentioned valve member, a second valve member of resilient material surrounding the stem and sustainedV by said head and arranged for engagement with the second mentioned valve seat, the casing having a lateral branch intermediate said second mentioned valve seat and said guide, said branch terminating in a downwardly extended fill pipe, a hollow boss rising from the branch and the bore of which is threaded part way up from .the bottom and is smooth therescrewed into the threaded portion of the bore, an unthreaded portion of the tube occupying the smooth portion of said bore, an orice in the wall of the said branch through which the rell ltube communicates with the interior of the branch, and a needle point valve threaded through the wall of the branch opposite said orice for controlling ow of water through the orifice, the interior cross sectional area of thc ll pipe being less than the cross sectional area of said branch in the region of said orifice and between said region and the casingI ARTHUR A. GREENWALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,182,903 Grossmann May 16, 1916 1,477,916 Sikes Dec. 18, 1928 1,007,191 Fol-ey Oct. 31, 1911 1,965,322 Steen July 3, 1934 1,784,762 Clemmons Nov. 5, 1929 1,980,144 Siena Nov. 6, 1934 2,197,686 Flutch Apr. 16, 1940 737,632 Jennings Sept. 1, 1903 2,326,544 Martin Aug. 10, 1943 1,488,835 Robertson Apr, 1, 1924 1,177,963 Peterson Apr. 4, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,317 British Mar. 19, 1896 28,097 British Dec. 24 1908 1,870

British 1875 

